The United States and Japan will step up their defence cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday.

Senate push to probe false Nauru evidence

A Senate committee will be asked to investigate whether witnesses gave false evidence to an inquiry into offshore processing on Nauru.

Senate President Stephen Parry on Monday ruled the privileges committee could look into possible contempt by witnesses who gave evidence relating to the surveillance of Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young and a disturbance in July 2013.

The Greens and Labor will refer the potential false or misleading evidence to the committee on Tuesday.